Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-10-20

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DISCUSSING TIE COMING OF ~. II. A."
Half an hour passed, and the distant
clatter Of the crazy stage coach was
heard coming round the bend in the
road at the entrance Of the village.
The lamp was carried into the sitting
room. and Captain FlaEg, with his wife
and Polly, who had just arrived, il
compliance with Miss Smiths express
invitation. were shown into the quaint,
old-timc room, followed, Il moment on
two later, by the Mosous Miss Smith,
wearing her best alapaca, bringing NJ
| the rear.
There was brief period Of waiting,
in which every one spoke in a sort OF
undertone, and presently steps were
heard on the piazza, whereat Miss
Smith ncrvously hurried out, TO en-
counter the gaze Of the tallest and
| stiflcst gentleman she had ever seen.
who had just entered the door with
/ Tad.
"This is Mr.. J. II. Atherton-Mis,
Smith, said Tad, awkwardly.
Miss Smith courtcsied. primly. The
tall gentleman inclined his head about
an inch and half. after which ccrc.
mony he was ushcrcd into the sitting
room, and formally presented to the
assembled company, whose presence
he evidently regarded with great sur
prise.
"Bcin' a lone woman" explained
Miss Smith, II thought best, for my
sake and Tad's here, 10 ask in these
fiicn's and neighbors Of mine, so 5 to
make sure that ey'ry thing II be -lone
straight and square
Mr.. Atherton did not seem parJicu.
larly well pleased with the explanation,
but he silently bowed, and seated him.
self in Miss Smiths rocking chair.
Then, mounting pair Of gpld-bowed
Eyeglasses across his Roman nose, he
glance over the top Of them, and
cleared his throat in an impressive
manner.
"This-or-youth. whom I dimly re-
member having seen once before
said Mr.. Atherton, with a dignitied move
ment Of his slender white hand toward
Tad, who stood near the old secretary,
''has, while on the way to your house,
informed me concerning the manner
in which-a-my property came into
his possession, and presume his-cr
--ycracity need not be called into
question
Miss Smith snifcd audibly.
"He's as truthful a boy rs 7 ever
saw" she said, conciscly, and Captain
Flagg was heard 10 murmur that no
truthfuller one never chopped down a
cherry tree with his little hatchet.
THAT being the case continued tho
speaker who had a ponderous way Of
moving and speaking, ''wc will proceed
10 the business in hand.
Drawing notebook from his pocket.
Mr. Atherton opened it, and began
reading;
Contents Of sachcl as follows: Item
first, white pastcboard box, containing
certain articles of iewcly, two wit:
One gold star pendant, containing
seventeen diamonds with large straw
colored stone in center; one pair sol
itaire ear drops, 3 carats weight
each; one diamond ring; one heavy
gold bracelet. Value Of the whole
six thousand five hundred and fifty dol
lars. These valuables." he observed,
pausing moment 10 note the sI 'ct Of
his announcement, "arc family jewels,
now belonging 10 myself as sole sur
yiving heir of the late Atherton family"
Item second" he continued, re-
ferring again 10 the notebook, "family
papers, as follows; Power Of attorney
from my diseased brother, S. X. Ather-
ton; deed Of Atherton homestead; will
Of late General Cleveland Atherton'--
That's enough, " curly interrupted
Miss Smith, you have the key 20 the
sachel with you, s'pose."
~ have, madam" was the reply.
"Then," returned Miss Smith, m0y,
ing toward the secretary drawer, and
proceeding 10 insert the key, "if the
things in the sachel coirespon's 20 then
you've mentioned, Why
Here Miss Smith stopped abruptly
The drawer was unlocked. With fac,
paler than ashes, she jerked il open!-
il was empty
''Robbers!' she gasped, dropping In
10 the nearest chair. "1hieyesw she
screamed, hysteIically, as they all ros'
10 their feet and came crowding about
her. "Burglarsr' she shrieked, in q
still higher key, "and It's all been done
since six o'clock-that saehel was IN
there then, for 1 see Il with my owl
eyesl And now--its gono-gonev
And Miss Smiths voice failed her; q
she began 10 sob.
Al this startling piece Of news Mr.
Atherton looked incredulous. Captain
Flagg and his wife astounded, Polly
amazed. Tad bewildered, Mrs Mason
surprised and Mr.. Mason overwhelmed
"By Jovep muttered the hitter gen-
tleman, - . sudden thought seemed Z
strike himl aud lnarln0 lhn lillln nl.nilI